Storm-shield for vehicles.



No. 727,598.. PATENTED MAY 12, 1903.

I. 0. DENMAN. v STORM SHIELD FOR VEHICLES.

$1 afl nmalgg zgfm" APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3Q, 1903.

UNITE STATES Patented May 12, 1903.

IRA O. DENMAN, QF CHARLESTON, ILLINOIS.

STORM-SHIELD FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 727,598, dated May 12, 1903.

Application filed January 30, 1903. $arial No. 141,195. (No model.)

attached or detached, and which may be at- I tached to any form of top-vehicle.

The invention consists in certain novel fea tures of construction, as hereinafter shown and described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a vehiclebody and foldable top with the improved shield applied. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged view of the supporting-frame looking from the inside of the vehicle. Fig. 3 is a sectional view. Fig. & represents an enlarged sectional detail illustrating the manner of connecting the frame to the vehicle-top.

The same reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The improved device is shown attached to a conventional form of top-buggy, 10 representing the body portion, 11 the foldable top, having the bows 12, and 13 the dashboard.

The improved attachment consists in a sub stantially rectangular frame 14, preferably formed of strong light material, such as tubing, of sufficient strength to resist the s'trains to which it will be subjected, extending from the upper line of the body portion 10 to a point opposite the front of the top portion 11, as shown.

dashboard 13 by thumb-screws 16, the latter being arranged to operate. from the interior of the vehicle, as shown. The upper end of the frame 14: is provided with a rearwardlyextending hood 17, conforming to and adapted to be detachably connected to the front portion of the vehicle-top, as by clamps 18, having clamp-screws 19, operative from the interior of the vehicle. The clamps 18 are arranged to engage the front bow member 12 ,of the folding top, and the hood portion is be a part thereof.

This frame 14 is provided with clamps 15, by which it is attachable to the' preferably extended downward at the ends to a point even with the drop of the top portion 11. The frame 14 and its hood will be covered with waterproof fabric of substantially the same material as the covering of the vehicle-top, so that when in position the shield will conform closely to the top and appear to Formed in the frame is an observation-aperture, with a sash 2O slidably disposed at the rear thereof, said sash having afilling of glass or other transparent material. This sash 20 will preferably be arranged to slide downwardly in a suitable pocket within the frame 14 and provided with a suitable pull-loop, as 22, by which to operate it. The sash20 is also provided with an elongated slot 23 in its lower member, through which the driving-reins are adapted to pass when the sash is closed, the slot being extended at one end to register with a cavity 29 in the frame 14c when the sash is in elevated position, into which cavity the reins will be withdrawn when the sash is to be raised or lowered. After the sash is lowered the reins will be operative above the sash.

The fabric covering of the frame 14 is applied exteriorly and forms a recess on the interior thereof, in which, adjacent to the vertical side members of the frame,are mounted perpendicuiarly-disposed ratchetless springoperated curtain-rollers 24 and 25, to which are attached laterally-extensible side curtains 26 and27,respectively, as shown in Figs. 2and 3. These curtains are provided with hooks 28 and conform to the area between the frame l t-and the vehicle'body and top, being long enough to provide for the engagement of the hooks 28 with the vertical bow members 12 of the buggy. By this arrangement the occupant of the vehicle can draw the side curtains rearwardly and engage the books 28 with the side bows without stooping or otherwise changing his position, and thus transforming an open vehicle into-a closed one. Each of the side curtains being independently operative either or both may be operated to meet the requirements of the weather.

The spring-actuated rollers 24 and 25",to which the side curtains are attached, are made without ratchets to provide for the automatic closing of the curtains on the disen- .gagement thereof from the side members of the vehicle-top and for the taut stretching of the curtains when in use.

In case of a runaway or overturned buggy the occupant can instantly release both ourtains, which will automatically roll up, and, if necessary, he can in a few seconds disengage the clamps which hold the frame to the vehicle-top and are disposed on the inside thereof, so that the buggy-top can be thrown out of the way.

The frame 14c when the sash is lowered and the curtains rolled up will offer a comparatively small obstruction to the View and will not prevent the top from being folded down in the usual manner.

By the use of this simple attachment a'pcrson owning an ordinary folding-top buggy can very quickly transform it into a closed vehicle having all the advantages of a cab or coup, and which may be as quickly restored to its original condition, no change being necessary to be made in the vehicle, and the same attachment being adapted to fit any vehicle of varying sizes.

The device may be arranged in foldable sections to provide for its collapse, in order that it may be stored beneath the seat of the vehicle when not in use, and the modifications necessary to permit such folding would not be a departure from the principle of the invention or sacrifice any of its advantages.

' The framework may be of any suitable material, and the hooks 28 and clamps 15 and 18 and other metal parts which come in contact with the vehicle will preferably be lined or faced with felt or other soft material to avoid abrasion.

I claim as my invention l. A storm-shield attachment for vehicles comprising an approximately rectangular frame adapted for detachable connection to the dashboard of a vehicle, means for detachably connecting said frame to the front bow of a vehicle, and laterally-extensible, spring-actuated side curtains mounted perpendicularly in said frame and provided at their free ends with means for detachable engagement with side members of a vehicletop.

2. A storm-shield attachment for vehicles comprising an approximately rectangular frame provided with means for detachable connection to the dashboard and the top of a vehicle, spring-actuated rollers mounted perpendicularly in said frame, and side curtains attached to said rollers and adapted to be laterally extended and detachably connected with the side members of the Vehicle-top, the tension of the springs serving to hold the curtains taut when open and to automatically close them when released from their engagement with the vehicle-top.

3. A storm-shield attachment for vehicles comprising an approximately rectangular frame provided with clamps operative from the interior of the vehicle for detachably connecting it to the dashboard and top of the vehicle, said frame having an aperture therein, a sliding sash mounted to slide behind said aperture andhaving a transverselydisposed rein-slot in the lower memberthereof, said slot extending through said sash at one end and adapted to register with a cavity in the frame, and laterally-extensible side curtains carried by said frame and provided with means for detachably engaging the side members of a vehicle-top.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' IRA O. DENMAN.

\Vitnesses:

R. G. HAMMOND, N. S. MCDONALD. 

